Bouncing (40 page)

Her mother tsked. “Well, I suppose if you can’t be troubled to drive home, the rest of your family can come to Delaware to see you.”

Brit’s jaw dropped, and she turned and looked at Alex. “She wants to see me,” she mouthed.

Alex gave her a smile and a thumbs-up.

Concentrating again on the conversation with her mom, Brit decided to tease the woman who wasn’t known for her sense of humor. “Well, it
is
my birthday, Mom. The least you can do is drive a few miles.”

“I see. Well, then, we will. And I’ll bake the cake. Do you think you can pick out a restaurant for dinner? You know Rehoboth better than I do.”

“Yes, of course, I can handle that.”

“You should make a reservation, Britain. A table for thirteen isn’t easy to come by.”

Brit immediately corrected her mother. It had been twelve of them, for the three years since Samantha’s son Brandon had been born. “Mom, it’s twelve. Sam’s five, Jordan’s four, you, me, and Dad. Five plus four plus three. Twelve.”

She heard her mother sigh. “Are you saying that your…Alex won’t be joining us for dinner?”

Brit stood when she heard her mother’s invitation, overwhelmed. Relief and happiness combined to form a wave of emotion. Her mother was inviting Alex to dinner! It had taken five months for her to come around, but Brit would have waited five years for this. Fortunately, she didn’t have to. She knew her mother was stubborn and principled, but apparently her love outweighed those other factors. Brit wiped away the tears that suddenly flowed down her face and cleared her throat, and sat down again, hovering on the edge of the bed. “She’s right here, Mom. Let me ask her.”

Brit smiled at Alex and their blue eyes locked. Alex winked at her in solidarity. “Alex, my mom would like to know if you’d care to join my family for dinner to celebrate my birthday. Next month. June twenty-eighth.”

Alex’s grin lit up her face, and Brit couldn’t resist running a hand through her golden locks. “I’d love to,” Alex replied as she kissed Brit’s forehead.

Brit’s heart was ready to burst, and she stopped trying to stop the flow of tears, instead allowing them to run down her cheeks unchecked. After sniffling, swallowing, and wiping her eyes on her sleeve, she finally answered. “She’ll only come if it’s the strawberry cake, Mom.”

“Well, obviously, you two have a great deal in common.”

“Yes. Yes we do.”

She heard Joan clear her throat. “I won’t pretend to understand this, Britain. But you’re my daughter, and if she’s a part of your life, then I suppose I have to accept her into mine.”

Brit sighed and finally relaxed into the arms that were wrapped around her, holding her tight. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Please call me with the details as soon as you’ve made the reservation.”

“’Kay. I love you,” Brit said.

“I love you, too.” Her mom’s declaration brought on a fresh wave of tears.

Alex slid back on the bed, pulling Brit with her, and gently wiped away her tears. Then she smiled. “Do I need to get my calendar out and start booking reservations for your time, Miss Popularity?”

“You have a standing reservation.”

“I’m so happy for you, Brit.” Alex sighed. She was happy. And relieved. Although she’d come to truly believe that Brit loved her and had the guts to stick it out this time, she knew that the love and support of her family would make their relationship that much stronger, and she told Brit so.

“I love you even without my mom’s approval, Alex.”

“I know, baby. And so this is just the icing on the cake.”

“On the birthday cake,” Brit reminded her.

“Yes, the strawberry birthday cake. I’m glad that your mom reminded me, since I only have a month to plan. How would you like to celebrate your birthday? Do you want to play golf, or go deep-sea fishing, or go for a long bike ride?” Alex was so in love with her she’d have done anything in her power to make Brit’s birthday special.

Brit bit her lip, suddenly serious. Apparently, she didn’t need to think about the answer. “I’d like you to make love with me.”

Alex paused and tapped a finger beside her head in feigned mental debate. It had been a long time since they last made love. So much had happened since then, and they were different women now. But some things hadn’t changed. Their love. The laughter they shared. And the constant desire for Brit that seemed to pulse through her like the blood in her veins.

Suddenly filled with desire, Alex pulled Brit close and kissed her. It was all heat and passion from the moment their lips met until they pulled apart, breathless, a moment later. “Do you want your present early?” Alex asked.

Brit pulled herself free of Alex’s arms and flew across the bedroom, her smile dazzling as she reached down and locked the door.

Jaime Maddox is a recovering ER doctor who gave up the adrenaline rush of critical care to open her very own walk-in clinic. It was a good move. Not only does she now have time for her partner and their eleven-year-old twin boys, she can squeeze in time to write for Bold Strokes Books, too.

Her debut novel,
Agnes
, was a Rainbow Award finalist and winner of the Alice B. Lavender Certificate.

Jaime lives in Northeastern Pennsylvania, not far from where she spent her childhood playing on the water and in the mountains. These days she plays golf, too, and when she has the chance she floats on the river in a kayak. Because she’s a really nice person, she allows her partner and her sons to beat her at basketball.

You can contact her at [email protected].

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